Riverside Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Having a bike accident in Riverside is serious, and they are all the more serious when cars are involved. Injuries resulting from these injuries can be quite severe, and knowing what to do in the moments, weeks and months following an accident is crucial.

Minutes After the Accident

In the moments following a collision with a motor vehicle, any bicyclist is going to be stunned and unsure of the next steps. You are likely to see damage to your bicycle and feel pain. Regardless of the situation, your first step should be to call the local Riverside police. You should do this even if you do not feel injured. Filing a report and reporting damages is essential, especially because these things may grow more severe over time. As you wait for the police, begin to document the accident with photos and notes if you are capable.

Once the Riverside police have arrived, ensure that you get the chance to speak with them. You want your story written down, and you need the police to acknowledge your injuries. This is also the time to gather the contact information of witnesses and the driver involved with the accident.

Days After the Accident

One of the first things you need to do after leaving the scene of the accident is to immediately call your lawyer. Discuss the importance of documenting your injuries, no matter how small they are.

The personal injury lawyers at Duque Law Group may recommend that you seek medical attention as evidence of the damage caused. Additionally, you might also want to write down any physical symptoms on paper along with dates and times.

Do not fix up your bike, if possible. Leave it in the same condition as it was when you left the accident. If you have any other damaged property from the accident (including clothing or a helmet), keep it at the ready. Our attorneys may request photos of the pieces.

If you are contacted by an insurance company, do not say anything until you have contacted your attorney and discussed the issue. Your attorney may wish to hire an independent expert to step in and analyze the situation before you communicate with insurance agents.

Weeks After the Accident

At this point, you will likely have met with your attorney and discussed the accident. Your attorney will also discuss with you the type of accident and which circumstances will allow you to earn the compensation that you deserve.

For instance, accidents at stop signs including motorists and bicyclists are incredibly common. Unfortunately, it is often the case that a cyclist has the right of way on the street but the motorist does not acknowledge them or misjudges their rate of speed. In a case like this, it is typically the driver’s fault. In some circumstances, California allows for shared fault cases, especially if the cyclist was riding against traffic or riding recklessly and against the laws of the road.

Many bicycle accidents also occur when a motorist turns left in front of the cyclist when they have the right of way to continue moving forward. The driver might not have seen the cyclist, did not acknowledge their right of way or misjudged the cyclist’s speed. In these situations, the driver is typically liable.

Finally, there is the type of bicycle accident in which a car cuts off a cyclist while making a right-hand turn. The driver is typically at fault for these accidents, even if the cyclist was in the driver’s blind spot when the incident happened. Fortunately, bike boxes are becoming much more popular in cities with large populations of bicyclists to prevent such accidents.

Talking to a Lawyer about Your Case

The Riverside lawyers at Duque Law Group want to get to the bottom of the case and help you receive any compensation for injuries, damage or pain and suffering that you may deserve. For this reason, hiring an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases is imperative. These are difficult cases that require a skilled attorney.

Shared fault is always an option in California court cases regarding vehicle and bicycle accidents. For instance, the vehicle might have had the right of way but perhaps was speeding or swerving, ultimately driving unsafely. Both parties had some responsibility for the accident, and both may be partially responsible for the accident and resulting injuries and damage.

Bicyclists who abide by the rules of the road are typically not at-fault for their accidents; however, the actions you take after the accident can play a significant role in the way your court case unfurls. If you are unsure about your options, get in touch with our office today. Our attorneys are ready to help you sort through the mess following an accident.

Contact our Riverside County Personal Injury Attorney at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away. You can even use our online contact form, and we’ll reply to you quickly.